When most people consider the controversy surrounding same-sex marriage, the name Kim Davis usually comes up somewhere in the conversation. Even more recently, presidential contender Mike Huckabee's name also comes up because of his decision to stand with Kim Davis and the lawsuit with which he's been slapped by Rude Music for playing the song "Eye of the Tiger" when Kim Davis was released from a Kentucky jail. But the controversy connected to same-sex marriage is not as simple as how the mainstream media is spinning it.
Kim Davis' case is probably the one that has gotten the most publicity. However, there are several other situations in America in which people have experienced persecution because they choose to hold fast to their beliefs. Family Research Council notes several other recent cases in which Christian business owners were approached by same-sex couples who wanted to use their services for their weddings. When those Christian business owners declined to do so, the same-sex couples sued them on the grounds of their civil rights being violated.
Another interesting story involves an insurance company that refused benefits to a married, same-sex couple living in Utah. Dustin Kennedy works at a college in Utah, and the insurance company is attempting to claim that it can refuse him and his partner benefits because same-sex marriage wasn't legal when Kennedy began working at the college.
Family Research Council has even suggested that there is a move among those on the liberal side of politics to promote a form of reverse discrimination against those who support "natural marriage." Family Research Council has proposed that a "Government Nondiscrimination Act" needs to be implemented to help prevent this because, "the pressure to approve of same-sex marriage is continuously increasing for religious schools, nonprofits, public employees, private employees, small business owners, and entities interacting with the government via grants, contracts, or other means (including obtaining tax exemption from the government). All of these individuals and entities (and more) should be protected from government coercion that would make them violate their consciences."
The purpose of the Government Nondiscrimination Act would be to prohibit, "the state government from penalizing individuals and entities for their moral or religious beliefs that marriage is the union of one man and one woman. It also protects individuals and entities who believe that sexual relationships are properly reserved for such marriages-such as a religious school requiring students to refrain from engaging in any sexual activity outside of marriage. GNDA also protects individuals and entities from being penalized for believing that 'man' and 'woman' are biologically based. States should not be in the business of forcing individuals and entities to affirm same-sex marriage or other sexual conduct against their beliefs."
Though DOMA would have been a measure that would have taken care of this situation several years ago, that's no longer the case. DOMA has been challenged several times, and there are multiple cases in which a court has ruled that Section 3 is "unconstitutional." There is even a move among many supporters of same-sex marriage to persuade Washington and the general public that traditional marriage is a form of gender discrimination and that marriage is a human rights issue that should ultimately be decided by an elitist group of human beings such as the United Nations.
All of that being said, there are many Christian families who are faced with the challenges of homosexuality on a much more personal level. Because conservative Christians believe that the Bible does not endorse homosexual behavior, a child "coming out of the closet" often causes a great deal of turmoil within a family. Though the church in general often lacks loving and healthy information and tools for helping individuals and families who struggle with this issue, Focus on the Family can offer some great resources. One especially great article for getting started in working through this struggle is called, "When Homosexuality Hits Home for the Holidays." Another one from PureIntimacy.org is called, "When a Loved One Says, 'I'm Gay': For Parents." There is also a rather extensive resource list offered by Focus on the Family that can be found here.
A few helpful websites for those who are seeking to find a way to overcome unwanted same-sex attraction are Restored Hope Network, Desert Stream Ministries, and Katharos Integrity Alliance.
